Philadelphia, PA (January 8, 2015)--With just a week away from an outstanding championship doubleheader on January 16, 2015 you will see two NABA/NABO title fights that will originate live from the Turning Stone Resort Casino and will be televised live on ESPN's Friday night fights. The show is promoted by Banner Promotions. In one co-main event, NABA/NABO and Boxcino 2014 Lightweight champion Petr Petrov (35-4-2, 17 KO's) will take on Hank Lundy (25-4-1, 12 KO's) The Petrov - Lundy fight is promoted by Banner Promotions and Classic Entertainment and Sports (CES) Boxing. In the second co-main event, NABA/NABO and Boxcino 2014 Middleweight champion Willie Monroe Jr. (18-1, 6 KO's) will battle Bryan Vera (23-8, 14 KO's) Below are quotes from both the Monroe and Vera camps. Willie Monroe Jr.: "Camp and sparring has been amazing and we are looking forward to the fight with Bryan Vera. We have a great deal of respect for Bryan and his style of fighting. He is a world class fighter and if Willie Monroe Jr. deserves to be at the top of the middleweight division, come January 16 we will defeat Bryan Vera. Damien Walton, Manager for Monroe: "I think Willie is very motivated and in great shape for this fight. I think he's got his work cut out for him in Bryan Vera but whens its all done you will see why Willie is ranked #3 in the world by the WBA and should be ranked # 1." Bryan Vera: "This is another opportunity to reinvent myself like I have done many times before. I'm coming prepared and focused to get the job done. All business here. Coming to work Be prepared to see me do what has to be done. Look forward to another exciting fight here on ESPN. " David Watson, Manager for Vera: "We are winding down camp as the fight is approximately 7 days away. Our weight is on track and we are looking forward to a victory over Willie Monroe and the opportunity to win the belts." "This fight is a great opportunity for Bryan. This will be an exciting fight for the fans and a great start to the ESPN Friday night season." Host of the January 16th bouts, the Oneida Indian Nation's Turning Stone Resort Casino continues to distinguish itself as a premier destination for professional sporting events, including nationally-televised boxing matches and PGA-level golf. The January 16th fight will mark Turning Stone's 13th nationally televised boxing event in less than two years, helping establish the resort as a mecca for knockout televised fights. Boxing legends Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have promoted televised fight cards at the resort within the last year and Turning Stone has hosted televised boxing events on ESPN, Showtime, HBO, and NBC in the last two years. Located in Upstate New York, the four-season resort offers world-class entertainment and gaming, prestigious restaurants, luxury spa facilities, and award-winning accommodations.Tickets for the January 16th ESPN Friday Night Fights at Turning Stone are on sale now at the Turning Stone box office, in person or by calling 315.361.7469, or online at Ticketmaster. Tickets are $60 for ringside seats, $35, $25, and are subject to additional fees. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The live ESPN telecast starts at 9pm.
Monroe is the more skilled fighter of the 2, but Vera as crude as he is has a pretty good track record for beating the more skilled boxer usually by KO, Lee, Dzinziruk both far better but Vera stopped them both and he beat Mora twice. Although Monroe may be a lot better than I think he is, I think this might be too much too soon for him.
I agree in principle, but we don't know how costly the BKB war and kayo loss to Rosado was. (it certainly took its toll on the victor, as he was a shell of himself when Lemieux pounder his face in)
Yeah that had crossed my mind as well, and on top of that the Chavez matches may softened him up for Gabe. So two back to back pretty bad beatings may make Vera ripe for the picking but I think..... maybe Vera is rugged and tough enough to pull this one out, but I may be wrong.
Weren't you talking about how when Stiverne got stopped it was BS? Well Lee/Vera was even worse of a bs stoppage. Vera has taken a lot of punishment in his last few fights, and he's nearly in his mid 30's, Monroe wins this clearly.
A shell of himself? So that was all Rosado being shot? Some credit to Lemieux or not at all? Hopefully that IB-proofed assessment is not tainted by the Bruins-Habs rivalry...
I give Lemieux credit for showing uup in top form and taking care of business, the same as I give Cotto due credit for doing the same thing with Martinez. Neither of them can help it or be faulted that both opponents were in a state of sorry disrepair. Both of them came In and did their jobs and were more than good enough on the night to systematically destroy what stood Inn front of them. They deserve credit for that. (although in either case their form was perhaps wasted as it amounted to a grenade launcher where a fly swatter would have sufficed. Cotto shouldn't get as much credit for beating Martinez as someone a few years ago would have, and likewise nor should Lemieux get nearly as much credit for stopping Rosado as Golovkin did a great deal earlier (and before the BKB trial further softened him up)
I just don't see the gap between prime Rosado and the Lemieux version being anywhere near as large as prime Martinez and the Cotto version. Rosado had surgery before the BKB fight, had scar tissue removed.
Vera has been so relevant to the mainstream over the past year+ for some reason (Chavez Jr fights, BKB event, etc.). I do think he probably beats Monroe, though. Vera is a tough cookie if you can't hurt him.
Thats why its a good fight. If Willie cant hurt Vera at this stage, he is going to have a hard time moving up to the world level.
